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Figgins ready to play wherever he's needed

The versatile 35-year-old has six of them stacked in his locker at the Roger Dean Stadium complex. Each one is expected to be used in his quest to make the team.

Figgins signed a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training on Feb. 8. He has no guarantee of being on the Opening Day roster, but he will be given every chance to show he can rekindle his past success.

"He's had a couple of rough years," manager Mike Redmond said. "We're hoping that he comes in here, gets around some younger players and rejuvenates himself. I saw this guy play a few years ago, and he was amazing. When he was in Anaheim, he was one of the best players I'd ever seen. He could run, he could hit and he can play defense. He can play all over the place.

"He, obviously, ran into a tough stretch there. But, hey, that's all in the past. It doesn't matter. It's a fresh start for him."

Figgins has endured highs and lows in a long career. He batted .330 with the Angels in 2007, but the past two seasons in Seattle he batted just under .190. He signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Mariners before the 2010 season, and Seattle is on the hook for just about all of the $8 million he is owed this year.

"The work ethic never changed," Figgins said. "It's just tough when you sign a four-year deal and the second year of the deal, you're already sitting the bench. That's hard to swallow."

This is the first time Figgins is in the National League, and it's his first Spring Training in Florida.

During a difficult time in Seattle, he made the most of the situation.

"I stayed positive as much as I could," he said. "I worked. I stayed in shape. This is where it's taken me. I don't have any regrets for what I did. I would do it again. It's part of it. Like they say, great players go through tough times. What you do after that is important."